"A lot of people are afraid to call their lawyer and end up their own worst enemy. Many clients tell me they wish that they had called me before their issues escalated to the point of litigation. Be that as it may, I don’t let them dwell on the past. Instead, we work together in a forward-thinking manner focused on achieving their goals based on things that we can control."

Stavros is a partner in HMB’s Litigation and Private Client, Trusts and Estates Groups. He focuses his practice on all aspects of commercial and fiduciary litigation.

Stavros represents a range of individuals and their businesses. He works closely with privately-held businesses and owners, executives, banks, lenders, investors, physicians and physician practice groups, general contractors and real estate developers and various others. Likewise, Stavros represents clients in a variety of matters including contract disputes, ownership (corporation/partnership and LLC) disputes, real estate and lease disputes, trade secret misappropriation, fraud and other business torts, restrictive covenants and more.

With years of trusts and estate litigation experience, Stavros also represents trustees and beneficiaries in a variety of controversies, including matters involving estate claims, trust and will contests due to undue influence, tortious interference with inheritance expectancy, trust asset valuations, trustee contract rights and breaches of fiduciary duties.

Clients rely on Stavros’s practical approach to preventing disputes as well as his strategic pursuit and defense of claims at trial, in state or federal court, or through arbitration and mediation. They appreciate his judgment and results-oriented advice on issues including before they become a problem. If an issue goes to court, clients trust that Stavros will pursue and defend their claims vigorously with their goals in mind.

Experience

Defended a majority shareholder and director in the post-sale of business litigation involving fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract claims in excess of $70 million, leading to a favorable settlement prior to trial and subsequent court rulings enforcing and interpreting terms of settlement in favor of our client after attempts by the plaintiff to invalidate and renegotiate terms.

Vacated a confession of judgment in excess of $1.5 million obtained by a plaintiff against an individual client on the basis of flawed loan documents.

Obtained the dismissal of lender liability counterclaims in excess of $50 million on behalf of a bank for lender liability claims asserted by the defendants in breach of note and guaranty litigation leading to a favorable settlement in favor of the bank on its claims against borrowers.

Obtained the dismissal of an alleged breach of contract claim by purported assignee of contract obtained on behalf of a logistics company at the initial response stage of litigation.

Obtained multiple trial verdicts in commercial lease disputes in favor of landlords/owners of commercial real estate in lease disputes and eviction matters, including obtaining awards for attorneys’ fees in favor of our client against tenants.

Second chaired a jury trial in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which the jury returned a verdict in favor of our client on all claims by the plaintiff including for fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, conversion, unjust enrichment and unauthorized trading.

Obtained an arbitration award for small business owners defending against an alleged breach of listing agreement by a broker and investment banker seeking over $500,000 as a success fee for purported involvement in the sale of a business; the arbitration award included an award for attorneys’ fees over $270,000 in favor of our client.

Enabled multiple beneficiaries and attorneys mired in litigation for over 6 years to resolve will contest disputes and claims, including attorney fee petition claims, after only a few months of involvement as counsel for Executor.

Obtained an order declaring property owner’s judgment in excess of $150,000 against a debtor in Chapter 7 bankruptcy to be non-dischargeable in bankruptcy by the debtor pursuant to fraud and misrepresentation.

Prosecuted, defended and advised clients in various partnership and shareholder disputes.

Education

Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D. with honors

Miami University, B.A. in Psychology

Admissions

Illinois

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

blog

A new section in the Illinois Probate Act, 755 ILCS 5/4-a, et seq., titled "Presumptively Void Transfers," which took effect January 1, 2015, creates a rebuttable presumption that a document that transfers assets upon a person's death, referred to as a "transfer instrument," that transfers $20,000 or more to a caregiver is invalid. The intent of the new law is…

Education

Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D. with honors

Miami University, B.A. in Psychology

Admissions

Illinois

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois